After the death of Abraham, Isaac, his son, followed in his footsteps in the land of Gerar, which is located in what is now considered south central Israel. As with Abraham, the Lord appeared unto Isaac, establishing the oath in which Abraham and Isaac’s seed would be the chosen people of God. In exchange, the Lord wanted Isaac’s obedience. He commanded Isaac not to go into Egypt but instead to remain in the land of Gerar. So that is what Isaac did. Now this was a time of famine. Let’s read Genesis 26: 1-6.
ISAAC
Like his father, Isaac was very wealthy and prosperous because the Lord had blessed him. His occupation was well digging. During this famine, Isaac sought to dig again the wells that Abraham’s servants dug up. However, the envious Philistines stopped Abraham’s servants from digging wells and filled them with dirt. It was not an easy task for Isaac and his servants to dig wells because other herdsmen in the area argued over the wells they dug up with the exception of one. Let’s read Genesis 26: 19-23.
TIME OF FAMINE
This lesson serves as a refrain for our time. We too live in a famine but it is a famine of truth. Amos 8: 11, “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:”
PEOPLE OF GOD
Isaac represents the people of God.
Just as God instructed Isaac not to go unto Egypt, we must stay away from this spiritual Egypt, which is the sin in this world. Instead, we must enter into a covenant with God, in which we keep all of his laws and in turn the Lord will bless us. He will help us to prosper and make us rich in faith, ultimately granting us salvation.
James 2: 5, “Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?”
THE PHILLISTINES
Consider the the Phillistines that buried the wells of Abraham. They represent Satan and the sons of men who have trampled upon God’s word and buried it.
Jeremiah 12: 10, “Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.”
Isaiah 59: 14, “And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.”
SEEK THE TRUTH
But the saints of God have to search for and dig up the truth just as Isaac and his servants dug up Abraham’s wells, revealing springs of fresh water. Luke 11: 9-10, And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”
JOHN 4: 7-15
This water represents the word of God that issues forth from Christ, which brings us to another lesson in John 4: 7-15. You can see here that Christ asked the Samaritan woman for a drink of water from the well. The woman was puzzled by this, knowing that the Jews did not associate with the Samaritans. But she did not know that this was Jesus. Christ used the well of water as a parable to teach the Samaritan woman that indeed it is his word that brings us living waters, through which we can gain eternal life.
WATER FROM HIS SIDE
When Christ died on the cross and the soldier pierced his side, both blood AND water came out. John 19: 34, “But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.” In another scripture it states, “Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth,” (I John 5: 5-6).
WATER SYMBOLIZES THE WORD
Why does God use water to depict the word of God? So we can understand the great necessity of studying the Bible for our spiritual survival. 2 Timothy 2: 15, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” This is how we ensure optimal spiritual health. We have to thirst for God’s word. Matthew 5: 6, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”
WATER IS ESSENTIAL
After all, water is essential to live. We can only survive 3 days without water. Water makes up the majority of our body weight and is involved in many important bodily functions:
WATER IS ESSENTIAL
Helps create saliva. Regulates body temperature.
It protects your tissues, spinal cord, and joints.
It helps excrete waste through perspiration, urination, and defecation
It helps with digestion. Boost energy and improve your mood. Improves blood oxygen circulation. Helps fight off illness.
WATER IS A CLEANING AGENT
Water is also a powerful cleaning agent. It can dissolve salts, sugars and several other compounds. Even oil and fatty stains can sometimes be removed by just plain old water. This teaches us that our spiritual water serves as a powerful agent for cleansing away sin. Ezekiel 36: 24-25, “For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.”
WELL WATER
Now in the lesson we just reviewed, Isaac dug up wells, exposing an underground aquifer. Well water is different from surface water. It is considered to be cleaner and fresher, higher in nutrients and high in minerals. These healthy nutrients and minerals are of course good for the body. And because well water is in the ground, it is protected from contamination that surface water, may be exposed to. This teaches us that spiritual well water, or Christ’s doctrine is pure and undefiled from sin. His word is enriched with the law and all of the teachings that we need in order to maintain our spiritual health.
IN CONCLUSION
So brothers and sisters, let us be like our forefathers, Abraham and Isaac, and dig up the wells of life in this time of famine. And let us drink our spiritual water that it may cleanse us of sin and quench our thirst, drawing us closer to Christ and eternal life. May God be with you all.
